Pre-Thanksgiving Pajama Day

Have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday!

Monday November 24, 2014

Today began with Alyssa leading our morning meeting and telling us about her time at a haunted Dorney Park.

Soon after, we had a quick fire drill and then got into peer revising/editing our Native American adaptation essays.

In math we reviewed adding and subtracting fractions with a board game called Fraction Fiasco!

We wrapped up Lesson 7 of Journeys which focused on character analysis.

Homework

Math- 3 problems (7,8,9)

RELA- Read 30; all trifolds due tomorrow

Other- planner signed; steps tracked

**As part of our marble jar celebration- you may wear PJs tomorrow!**

Friday November 21, 2014

"cred" Latin Root prove what you know started our day.  This week's root was one of the hardest so far this year.  As a class, we achieved 75% proficient or advanced.  75% seems to be our average point since we have been hanging around this area for 3 weeks now!  I am really pushing for 80% of the class or more to get proficient or advanced.  We will make this goal!!

Adaptation informative essays continued to be drafted during social studies.

In math we subtracted fractions with unlike denominators.  We also learned a second way to find the Least Common Denominator (LCD).  See the video below:

In the afternoon we reviewed our first LTA of the 2nd marking period.  Revisions and signed copies are due back before T'giving break.

Writing focused on conclusion writing.  Drafts are hopefully finished today!  Revisions, edits and good copies are due before T'giving!!  Monday and Tuesday we will do our best to get these completed.

Reading ended our day with a focus on how authors build characters and how we can analyze them based on their actions, words and thoughts.  

HOMEWORK

Math- subtract fractions
Social Studies/Writing- Native American adaptation essay drafts due Monday

RELA- read 30 and fill in story maps!

Spelling- due MONDAY!

Planner signed

Thursday November 20, 2014

Phhhhhew it feels good to be back in the classroom!  I cannot stand missing days.

This morning, Ryan took us through a barnyard morning meeting greeting and added some information about his trip to the beach this summer.

In social studies we reviewed body paragraphs and continued to write and elaborate about native american adaptations.

Math's central focus was on adding fractions with unlike denominators.  See the video and notes below for homework help:

Later in the afternoon we continued to write our adaptation informative essays (we need these published by Thanksgiving).

Then in reading some individuals read their second time through of Old Yeller to move along their close reading on the character of Travis.  Small groups worked through similar stories that focused on their own set of interesting characters who we analyzed based on thoughts, actions and dialogue.

Homework

Math- adding fractions (use the LCD method from the video above)

RELA- read 30; finish your trifold

Spelling/Voc- Spelling due Nov 24 (Monday); "cred" sentences due tomorrow

Planner signed!

Tuesday November 18, 2014

This morning, Mrs. Bigenho, Mrs. Wilson, and myself worked on some PSSA data analysis and future focus, so there was a substitute in all morning.  I was asked to help with new Common Core PSSA preparations, so tomorrow I will be attending another PSSA meeting at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Doylestown. I will not be here again... As the students know, I cannot stand missing days of school, so these past two days have been tough for me!  Hopefully they will pay off in preparation.

In math, students took a math LTA to check in with their skill acquisition up to this point in the 3rd unit.

In the afternoon we started wrapping up personal narratives, and then began a new book, Old Yeller.  In this story we analyzed the character Travis based on his actions, words, and thoughts so we could determine what type of person he was and why the author created him this way based on the other plot events.

Homework
Math- fraction review homework
RELA- Read 30 min; Elephants and Llama reading (annotate and number proof); S.o.R. take home tests due Thursday
Spelling/Voc.- Spelling due Nov. 24, "cred" sentences due Friday
Other- planner signed

AND, tomorrow's homework since I will not be here to post it!
Homework (Wednesday)
Math- simplify fractions homework (choose any 20 to do)
RELA- Read 30 min; Sharks and Armadillo reading (annotate and number proof; these are on the back side of last night's homework); S.o.R. take home tests due TOMORROW!!!! Books and packets handed in for credit
Spelling/Voc.- Spelling due Nov. 24, "cred" sentences due Friday
Other- planner signed

Monday November 17, 2014

I knew I forgot something as I left school today- A BLOG POST!

This morning we discussed our new Latin Root "cred" meaning believe.  We had a great discussion on what credit cards were and how they are "a belief that whatever you borrow from the company will be paid back."  Nice little real life lesson there today.
Quizlet

Body paragraphs to informative essays was the topic of our Social Studies lesson today.  Body paragraphs began today and will continue for the next few days.  We looked at body paragraph layout, examples from past years and began writing our own.

In math we created equivalent fractions through visual models and by using multiplication and division.  Whatever you do to the numerator you must do to the denominator and vice-versa.

Today's grammar lesson focused on direct objects.  We reviewed nouns, subjects, and verbs in order to discover what our direct objects were.

Personal narratives will be due Wednesday.  Only two more days of Google Docing left!

In reading we received our 10 new words for Lesson 7.  What a romp it was.

Homework

Math- SL 5.4 equivalent fractions

RELA- read 30 min.; SoR test due Thursday (hand in whenever you finish); Vocabulary for Lesson 7 wrapped up

Spelling/Voc- Spelling due Nov. 24; "cred" matching due tomorrow

Other- planner signed; steps tracked

Friday November 14, 2014

This morning we took our "graph" PWYK.  75% at proficient or advanced.  My goal is 80% but 100% at proficient or advanced is do-able... This percentage needs to rise!  To those of you who are constantly studying and working hard towards your goal; excellent keep it up!

In social studies we wrote intros to our Native American adaptation essays.  This took quite a long time and extended into math.  Overall great work and introduction to informative writing.

Math focused on reviewing comparing and ordering fractions.

In the afternoon we worked on our personal narratives a bit longer and then reviewed our reading tests from last week.  Group leaders did a fantastic job of explaining how to answer each of the questions and I heard students asking excellent questions to clear up their original misconceptions.

To wrap up today, we worked in partnerships and independently to identify cause and effect / compare and contrast structures in a reading on tsunamis, hurricanes, and coastal pollution.

Homework
Math- compare and order fractions worksheet
RELA- Non-fiction text Qs due Monday (annotate); S.o.R. take home test due Thursday- you may use your notes and book to answer any questions
Spelling- Nov. 24 due
Other- planner signed; track steps

Thursday November 13, 2014

Alex was our morning meeting man today.

Post morning meeting, we wrapped up our Native American research by reading and annotating with a focus on adaptations about the Southwest Native Americans.

In math we compared fractions and ordered fractions.

Math was a quick overview because we had our marking period 1 reading meeting at 10:50.  Congratulations to all of our readers who had 6 books this marking period and a special congratulations to Ali for already making gold card with 34 books.

This afternoon, Google Doc drafting/sharing/revising continued.

In reading we wrapped up cause and effect in our small groups and LDCs continued to be worked on by partnerships.  These need to be finished tonight.  Great quoting and elaboration from our blue group who I was working with!

Homework

Math-

RELA- nonfiction reading and Qs due Monday; LDC due tomorrow (Pink and Purple); trifolds due tomorrow (Green and Blue)

Vocab- "graph" sentences and PWYK tomorrow

Other- planners and report cards signed; coins of compassion/canned food donation for CRAZY HAIR tomorrow!

Wednesday November 12, 2014

This morning I lead the morning meeting because it today officially began the 2nd Marking Period.  We discussed the strengths and weaknesses of our class (we have lots of strengths!).  This was an open dialogue and I think we wrapped up MP1 on a positive note.  We set some lofty goals for MP2 based on personal growth.

In social studies we researched the Native Americans of the Plains.  Buffalo was their main adaptations and they really did some amazing things with this creature.

Link to interesting video on Plains Native Americans

In math we took a step back from yesterday's loft Common Core introductory fraction lesson and analyze the intricacies of converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions.  This will build into our understanding of using operations with fractions.

In writing we continued to use G-Docs to draft/revise and edit our next round of personal narratives.

Commenting with direct feedback is key!

In reading, Pink/Purple began their LDC on saving sea turtles while Green/Blue worked in small groups to read texts that displayed cause/effect relationships.

Homework

Math- Both sides of mixed/improper worksheet

RELA- Summer of Riley finished!; Non-Fiction text close read and questions due Monday

Vocab- "graph" sentences due Friday

Other- report cards signed; planners signed

Tuesday November 11, 2014

Quick post due to conferences.

We wrapped up Pacific Northwest adaptations this morning.

In math we continued our introduction to fractions.

Writing continued with personal narratives on Google Docs.

In reading LDCs and Cause/Effect groups continued.

Homework
Math- Lesson 17 (both sides)
Reading- Purple and Pink: trifolds; Green and Blue: LDC finished
Voc- "graph" sentences due Friday
Other- Planner signed; steps tracked

Monday November 10, 2014

Hello all!  Sorry for no post on Friday; I had to leave school ASAP to get out on the Appalachian trail for a backpacking weekend.  It was cold, but man was it fun to be away from towns, cities, and society for a few days.  It really makes you appreciate all the things that make life so much easier.

This morning we received our new Greek and Latin root word "graph" meaning writing.  Membean and Quizlet.

Pacific Northwest Native Americans will be the topic of social studies for the next two days.  Here is a 30 minute video with more information about their culture and the region.

In math we wrapped up Unit 2 by taking a major quiz that reviewed all the key components of the unit.  We then touched upon our next unit- fractions.  Tonight's homework will be review from grade 3.

Spelling tests were given today.  New lists will be home tomorrow.

In writing we continued to draft our personal narratives based on a specific theme from our mentor text.  Google Docs is really helping our ability to revise and comment on each other's work.

Finally in reading, Green and Blue groups worked on our newest Integration of Knowledge essay that focuses on 3 texts all about saving sea turtles.  This essay will be the final partner Integration of Knowledge practice that students get before moving onto individual practice with the skill of responding to multiple texts.

Homework

Math- worksheet on fractions

Reading- Summer of Riley Ch. 21; Cold read (RAGER for open response and number proofing all multiple choice)

Voc- "graph" matching due tomorrow

Other- Planner signed; steps tracked

Thursday November 6, 2014

Quick post before conferences.

Nick took us through our morning meeting today.

In Social Studies we wrapped up Northeast Woodland Native American adaptations and began working in partnerships on Southeast Woodland Native Americans.

In math we divided with decimal divisors.

In writing we began drafting our new personal narrative on Google Docs.

In reading we read Interrupted Journey- Saving Endangered Sea Turtles and discovered cause and effect relationships within the text.

Homework
Math- Lesson 14 both sides
RELA- Summer Riley: Ch. 18; Finish Interrupted Journey and C&E organizer with page numbers/text evidence.
Voc/Spelling- Nov. 10 spelling; "miss/mit" sentences due tomorrow
Other- planner signed; track steps

Wednesday Nov. 5, 2014

What a delightful day back from a one day election break.

Bree kicked off our morning with a story about her trip to North Carolina.

After, we began looking at the different Native American tribes around the United States of America and researched the adaptations of Northeastern Woodland Native Americans.

In math we divided decimal dividends by whole numbers.  Some students took on the challenge of extending zeroes into the decimal place to show remainders as decimals.

Our writing lesson continued to develop the idea of theme and write a story about a specific theme that was in the mentor text Eleven that we read.  The theme of the story was "sometimes things do not go your way or as you planned" and students are now writing their own narratives to reflect upon this theme.

In reading we received our 10 new Lesson 6 words and did a word study on them.  Finish these for homework please.

Homework
Math- Divide decimal dividends
RELA- Summer Riley Ch. 17 (might be collected tomorrow...); finish vocab for lesson 6
Spell/Voc- spelling due Nov. 10; "miss/mit" sentences due Friday
Other- planner signed

Monday Nov. 3, 2014

Quick Blog!  Conferences tonight!

"miss/mit" Latin Root meaning SEND: Quizlet

Began Native American adaptations today.  Focused on transition from explorers to Native Americans and what an adaptation is.  Watched segments from each of these videos.

transition to Native Americans

beluga and polar bear

special human adaptation

In math we looked at how to interpret remainder in division problems.

In writing we reflected and set goals for our next personal narrative.  Then we began reading the mentor text Eleven by Sandra Cisneros to guide our next narrative based on its theme.

In reading we wrapped up two projects: informative poster and letters to soldiers.

HAVE A GREAT TUESDAY OFF FOR ELECTION DAY!!

Homework

- Math: Remainder WS both sides

- Reading- Riley Ch. 15 an 16; annotate Eleven

- Spell/voc- Spell due Nov. 10; "miss/mit" matching

- Other: planner signed; PWYKs signed